Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), September 04: In a tragic incident underscoring the severe monsoon fury in North India, at least seven people from Jammu and Kashmir are feared dead after a massive landslide struck Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district on Thursday. The victims, identified as labourers and all residents of Tulail in Bandipora district, were working in the area when the disaster hit.
The Office of the Chief Minister of J&K posted on social media platform X, stating that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed profound grief over the tragic incident which claimed several lives, including those of residents from J&K. Assuring all possible support, the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed it is in touch with the local administration in Kullu to coordinate assistance.
According to reports from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the powerful landslide caused two houses to collapse, leaving approximately 12-13 people trapped under the debris. In a challenging overnight operation, rescue teams managed to pull out three injured individuals alive and recovered one body. Efforts are ongoing to locate and extricate the remaining trapped victims, though hopes are fading amidst the difficult terrain and weather conditions.
This tragedy compounds the existing crisis in the region, as both Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir have been reeling from severe floods and multiple rain-related disasters in recent days, straining rescue resources and exacerbating the challenges faced by authorities.